Vehicle-step.



I. Al BUTCHER.

vEHlcLE'sTEP.

APPLICATION FILED MAYIZ, 1914,.

1,149,338. Patented Aug. 10,1915.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY cnLuMnm PLANOGRAPH c0..wASH|NGTcN, D. c.

`ED serias JOSEPH A. eUTcHnR, ory DALLAS, TEXAS.

' VEHICLE-stun?.

Specification of LettersiPatent.

Patented Aug. io, i915.

i Application led May 12, 1914. jSerialNo. 838,011.v

To all whom #may concern:

Be it' known-that If, JOSEPH A. BUTCHER,

inward over thehub of a wheel and prevent persons stepping on or ridingthe hub.`

Another object is to provide a step having a nait engaging member, soconstructed that the" step may be disposed inan upright positionirrespective of the position of the nut,- andv also to #provide meansfor faistening the steponfth'e nut.

A stillfurtherobject of the invention is to provid'e'a device of thecharacter described that will-be' strong, durable, eiiicient and simpleand comparatively inexpensive to construct, also one ink which theseveral parts will not be likely to get out of working order.

Vith. the aboveand other objects in view, the invention has rel-ation tocertain novel featuresl of construction and operation, an example ofwhich is described in the following specilfication and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l: is a plan view showing thestep applied" to a -W-heel Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig.3: is detail ofthe step in section and showing the manner of fasteningthe step on the nut. Fig. t: is a transverse sectional view on the lineX-X of Fig. 3. Fig. 5: is a face view of one of the locking keys, andFig. 6: is an underside view of the same.

In the drawings the numeral l, designates a sleeve or nut engagingmember, which has a shape suitable for surrounding a nut within theouter end of a hub. This sleeve eX- tends laterally from one side of ashank Q, and is preferably formed integral therewith and at one endthereof. The sleeve l, may have its surface tapered toward its free endso as to freely enter the outer end of the hub.

In Fig. 2, the sleeve l, is shown in detail inserted in the hub 3, of awheel l. The sleeve surrounds the nut 5, of the axle and has its freeend impinging the iange of said nut. It will be noted that the shank 2,

stands in a vertical position in close proximity tothe outer end of thehub 3.

At the upper end of the shank or that end 'opposite to the'sleeve1,'a1laterally eXtending ytread plate 6 is provided. This tread plate ispreferably formed integral with' the shank and overhangs the. sleeve l:When the step is placed on a hub the plate will extend inward there'overas shown best in Fig. 3. VThe shank 2, is of such lengthy as to supportthe plate 6, in close proximity to the surface of the hub and yetallowing suiiicient clearance therebetween to permit theV wheel to turnfreely. The upper surface of the plate 6, ,should be roughened and Iprefer to provide it with a plurality of parallel ribs 7,4 extending`longitudinally thereof.

The vplate is given ak shape conducive to'` strength anda neatappearance.

The sleeve 1, is formedwith a concentric bore, or opening extendingtherethrough. This bore is iared slightly fromthe shank so as toI moreread-ily itthe nut 5, which is tapered outward. YThe inner surface ofthe bore of the sleeve is longitudinally toothed or recessed by' meansof ribs: 8 extending the length thereof, as shown in Figs. 3 andl 4;.-Hub nutsaare as a rule, square in cross section. ralitfyof'longitudina-l recesses, angular in crosssection, are formed in thesleeve. In

placing thestep on the nut 5, the latter is` receivedfin said recessesand by kreason of` their frequence, may be positioned with its treadplate 6, levelirrespectivev ofthe angle of the nut. In this way the stepis locked on the nut so far as relative rotation is concerned. c.

One of the important features of the invention resides in the means forlocking the sleeve on the nut against outward displacement. When thesleeve is on the nut 5, four approximately quarter round cross sectionalslots or recesses are left in the bore of the sleeve. These recessestaper inwardly and I provide a taper key 9 for each recess or slot. Oneof these keys is shown in the detail in Figs. 5 and 6. Each key has aflat underside to contact with one of the sides4 of the nut 5, and actsas a wedge. The opposite or rounded side is ribbed to correspond withthe bore of the sleeve and will fit therein. Each key 9, has a head 10,which overhangs the fiat side, and impinges the end of the nut 5, whenthe key is driven into the sleeve. Each head is cut on the arc of Byproviding the ribs 8 a plu-V a circle as shown in Fig. 2, so that incases wherethe axle extends through the nut,the key will not interferewith the same. f

A step of` this character has many advantages. Delivery boys invariablystandV onthe hub of the wagon wheel and use it as a step; This step willprevent thispracticeY and it will also place a step Vinca convenientposition for all who enter the wagon. Being securely fastened and Vnotdepending upon set screws and the like, it is notlikely to become loose.Y f

The tread must be close to hub because ifV it is to'ohigh, there isdanger of ones foot slipping into the spokes.

What I claim is: Y

l. As a new article jof manufacture, avehicle step comprising a shank, asleeve integral with the shank and extending laterally therefrom, atread plate integral with the shank and extending laterally therefromand `overhanging the sleeve, said sleeve having a bore providedwith aplu-v rality of longitudinal circumferential recessesdisposed to receivethe corners of a hub nut-and whereby said sleeve may adjust on the nutto dispose the tread plate horizon-.j

' tally, said recesses being greater in number than thecornersof thenut, and means' for locking the sleeve on thek nut.4

2. In a vehicle step, the combinationV of a shank, a sleeve extendinglaterally from one end of the shank, a tread plate extending laterallyfrom the opposite end ofthe shank and overhanging the sleeve, saidsleeve having a lbore provided with a plurality of lon#A gitudinalcircumferential recesses disposed toreceive the corners'of a hub nut,and a` plurality of wedge shaped keyseach having e one side flat and theother ribbed longitudinally and curved transversely, said keys fittingin the bore of the sleeve so that the Aribbedv the recesses and the flatsides will engage the sides, of a shank,'a substantially'flat treadYV ishank, a. sleeve extending laterally from the other end of the shank,said sleeve having a plate extending laterally from one end of theplurality of recesses constructed to receive o vthe corners of an axlenut and said recesses beingl'frequent and close together whereby` thesleeve may be subjected to comparatively fine circumferentialadjustment, the numberl of said recesses being greater'than the sides ofsaid nut, and the tread plate thus disposed .horizontally irrespective.of the position of the axle nut, and means for locking the sleeve onanaxle nut.

4L. rIhe` combination in a vehicle hub step having an axle nut with'aplurality of iiat sides, of a shank, a substantially fiat tread plateextending laterally from one end lof the shank, a sleeveextendinglaterallyfrom the other end ofthe shank, said sleeve havi ing aplurality of recesses constructed to receive the corners of an axle nutand saldrecesses being frequent and close together whereby the sleevemay be subjected to comparatively ine circumferential*adjustment,

wedges disposed between the faces 'of the` nut and the interior of thesleeve.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. JOSEPH A. BUTCHER.

Witnesses:

R. E. C. BRUGKNER, JACK A. SCHLEY.

Copies of this patent mayA be'obtained for ive cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

i f Washington, D. C.

